Rahul Sharma (Editor)

National Assembly (Nicaragua)

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Type
  
Unicameral

National Assembly (Nicaragua)

President of the National Assembly
  
Gustavo Porras Cortés, Sandinista National Liberation Front

Seats
  
92 deputies (90 of whom are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis from party lists: 20 nationally, and 70 representing the country's departments and autonomous regions).

Political groups
  
Sandinista National Liberation Front (71)     Constitutionalist Liberal Party (14)      Independent Liberal Party (2)      Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (2)      Conservative Party (1)      Alliance for the Republic (1)      YATAMA (1)

Voting system
  
Party-list proportional representation

Last election
  
Nicaraguan general election, 2016

The National Assembly (Spanish: Asamblea Nacional) is the legislative branch of the government of Nicaragua.

Contents

Composition

The Nicaraguan legislature is a unicameral body. It is made up of 92 deputies, 90 of whom are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis from party lists: 20 nationally, and 70 representing the country's departments and autonomous regions. In addition, the President of the Republic who served the immediately previous presidential term is entitled to sit in the Assembly as a deputy, as is the runner-up in the most recent presidential election. The President and the National Assembly serve concurrent five-year terms.

To be eligible for election to the Assembly, candidates must be (Art. 134, Constitution):

  • Nicaraguan nationals. If they have held any other nationality, it must have been renounced at least four years prior to the election.
  • In full enjoyment of their political and civic rights.
  • At least 21 years old.
  • Residents of the country for at least four years prior to the election (exemptions are granted to members of the diplomatic corps and employees of international organisations, and to those recently returned from studying abroad).
  • Born in the department or autonomous region they hope to represent, or having resided there for at least two years prior to the election.

    • The following are disqualified from serving in the Assembly:

  • Ministers, vice-ministers, and other members of the cabinet, magistrates and judges, and mayors, unless they resign from those positions at least 12 months prior to the election.
  • Ministers of any church or religious organization, unless they have relinquished their ministry at least 12 months in advance of the election.

    • Four months before the Nicaraguan general election, 2016, the Nicaraguan Supreme Court removed PLI leader Eduardo Montealegre, decreeing that Pedro Reyes was the new leader of the PLI. After PLI and allied Sandinista Renovation Movement deputies objected, Nicaragua's Supreme Electoral Council ordered them removed from the National Assembly and empowered Reyes to select their replacements.

    Election results

    Template:Nicaraguan legislative election, 2016

    Parliamentary groups

    The deputies are organized in Parliamentary Groups (bancadas). The current number of deputies of the parliamentary political parties is:

  • Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN): 71 deputies
  • Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC): 14 deputies
  • Independent Liberal Party (PLI): 2 deputies
  • Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN): 2 deputies
  • Conservative Party (PC): 1 deputy
  • Alliance for the Republic (APRE): 1 deputy
  • YATAMA: 1 deputy

    • Other parliamentary bodies

    Nicaragua also returns deputies to the supranational Central American Parliament.

    References

    National Assembly (Nicaragua) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA